rené olate , phd (olate.1@osu) michael vaughn , phd eun joo chung , ma
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Evidence-based Community Interventions for Tackling the Problems of Youth Violence and Delinquency in Central America. René Olate , PhD ([email protected]) Michael Vaughn , PhD Eun Joo Chung , MA Chris Salas-Wright , PhD. Social Work – Social Development Sweden, Stockholm - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
René Olate, PhD ([email protected])Michael Vaughn, PhDEun Joo Chung, MAChris Salas-Wright, PhD
Evidence-based Community Interventions for Tackling the Problems of
Youth Violence and Delinquency in Central America
Social Work – Social Development Sweden, Stockholm
July 10, 2012
Background: Youth violence and gangs in Central America
Research: Partnership between a youth organization and researchers
Message: (“Mano Dura” or Iron fist policies failed)
Evidence-based Community interventions working in the gray area: 1. Harm reduction interventions2. Desistance strategies
Contents
The Northern Triangle of Violence: El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras
(Homicide Rate per 100,000)
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20080
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Source: U.N. Development Program (2009). Informe sobre desarrollo humano para América Central 2009-2010.
Homicide Rate per 100,000: Honduras: 82.1 (6,239) El Salvador: 66.0 (4,085) Belize: 41.7 (130) Guatemala: 41.4 (5,960) Panama: 21.6 (759) Mexico: 18.1 (20,585) Nicaragua: 13.2 (766) Costa Rica: 11.3 (527)
Global Study on Homicide UNODC (2011)
NORTHERN SQUARE OF VIOLENCE
⋇ El Salvador: 66 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants⋇ More than 270% that of Latin America⋇ The second largest rate worldwide (UNODC, 2011) ⋇ Youth gangs: Mara Salvatrucha (MS) & 18th Street (18)⋇ More than 28,000 (9,566 in prison) (Policia Nacional Civil, 2012)⋇ Responsible for 30% of the nation’s homicides (Policia Nacional Civil, 2012)⋇ Responsible for 90% of the extortion-related crime (“la renta”) ⋇ Salvadoran youth ⋇ No age group is more likely to be victimized by or perpetrate violence (Cruz, 2005).
“Central America is now considered the most violent region in the world”
Violence and Youth Gangs
3/21/2012
The Impact of Drug Trafficking
$ 177.26• The value of the cocaine market
in the US has fallen dramatically in the last decade; however it has increased in Europe and South America.
• The main route of cocaine to the US is through Central America and Mexico. This is a $6 billion industry (plus $29.5 b. once it is in the US).
⋇ Risk and protective factors ⋇ Individual, family, school, peer, community Inform intervention programs and evidence-based practices⋇ Risk/protective factors is not enough⋇ Atheoretical⋇ Fail to account for mediating mechanisms
Current Research
⋇ Data collection I (2010): Purposive sample (N=208) of high risk and youth gang involved from San Salvador metropolitan area⋇ Data Collection II (2011): Increase the number of communities youth (N=351)⋇ Data Collection III (2012) : aiming 500 youth⋇ In collaboration with a high risk youth development organization that works with active gang members and high risk youth⋇ Respondents recruited by staff members by means of snowball or chain referral sampling
Longitudinal Study
⎈ Delinquency⎈ Self-Reported Delinquency Scale (SRD)
from the National Youth Survey (Elliot, Huizinga, & Ageton, 1985)
⎈ Violence⎈ SRD and Aggressiveness Scale (Thornberry
et al., 2003).
⎈ Substance Abuse⎈ Rochester Youth Survey (Thornberry et al.,
2003)
⎈ Others⎈ Empathy (Jolliffe & Farrington, 2005
Measurement
⋇ Sample Size 351 ⋇ Mean age 21 years⋇ Mean lifetime education 8th grade⋇ Male 82%⋇ Enrolled in school 28%⋇ Employed 37%⋇ Deported 6%⋇ Arrested 22%
Sample Characteristics
⋇ Olate, R., Salas-Wright, C., & Vaughn, M. G. (2012). Predictors of violence and delinquency among high risk youth and youth gang members in San Salvador. International Social Work, 55(3) 383–401.⋇ Salas-Wright, C., Olate, R., & Vaughn, M. G. (in press). Assessing empathy in Salvadoran high-risk youth and youth gang members: A Spanish validation of the “Basic Empathy Scale”. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology⋇ Olate, R., Salas-Wright, C., & Vaughn, M. (2011). A cross-national comparison of externalizing behaviors among high risk youth and youth gang members in metropolitan Boston and San Salvador. Victims & Offenders, 6(4), 356-369.⋇ Biswas, B., Olate, R., & Vaughn, M. (2011). Comparing risky sexual behavior among gang-involved youth in Metropolitan Boston, and San Salvador, El Salvador. Journal of Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, 6(4), 309-313.⋇ Olate, R. & Salas-Wright, C. (2011). ¿Cómo intervenir en los problemas de violencia y delincuencia juvenil? El fracaso de los enfoques punitivos y las posibilidades del enfoque de la salud pública. Revista de Trabajo Social, 79, 7-21.
Peer-reviewed Papers
⋇ High-risk youth and youth gang involved are similar to high-risk youth in the US, but they exhibit higher levels of violence and delinquency.⋇ Youth gang members exhibit high level of risk behaviors⋇ One of the main factors that explain violence is exposure to violence: vicious cycles⋇ The second generation of youth gang members is already active⋇ Youth gangs are extremely adaptable to the environment: army in the streets⋇ Youth gangs “control” some communities ⋇ Youth gangs are growing
Summary of Evidence
Message: (“Mano Dura” or Iron fist policies failed)
1. Harm reduction interventions2. Desistance strategies
Evidence-based Community Interventions working in the gray area
Public Health Approach: Community-based Prevention and Intervention
Harm Reduction (IN):1. Drug use2. Violence3. Delinquency
Desistance (OUT) -Alternatives to gang life:1. Employment2. Marriage and
stable relationship3. Associations:
sports and churches